Aberdeen, Aug 21 (IANS) Shubhankar Sharma carded a one-over 73 to lie tied 38th, while Yuvraj Sandhu opened with a three-over 75 and was tied 62nd after a demanding first round of the Nexo Championship at Trump International Golf Links.
Sweden’s Marcus Kinhult set the pace with an impressive five-under 67 to establish a two-shot lead. Starting from the 10th, Kinhult overcame testing Scottish conditions with seven birdies and two bogeys. His 67 was the only round of five-under or better as strong winds made scoring difficult on the exposed links layout.
Sharma, starting on the 10th tee, made a slow start with a bogey on the opening hole. He bounced back with a birdie on the 12th but dropped another shot on the 15th before gaining a stroke on the par-five 18th. He made the turn in 37.
On his second nine, Sharma birdied the par-five first but surrendered the advantage with a bogey on the fifth. He completed his round with a level-par 36 to finish six shots off the lead.
Sandhu was two-over through his opening six holes but steadied himself with a birdie on the 18th to turn in 37. On his second nine, he birdied the third but a bogey on the second and a double bogey on the sixth left him with a two-over 38 and a 75.
English amateur Eliot Baker was among the surprise performers, shooting a three-under 69 on his DP World Tour debut. His round included an eagle and four birdies, leaving him tied second alongside Andrew Wilson, Félix Mory and Benjamin Follett-Smith.
Keita Nakajima, Jacob Skov Olesen, Lucas Bjerregaard, Scott Jamieson and Albin Bergstrom were among those at two-under 70. Patrick Reed and Eugenio Chacarra opened with 72.
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